Honors student makes charitable use of unreturnable textbooks
Chaeli Fortina
Issue date: 4/27/07 Section: People
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It's an unavoidable problem. At the end of the semester, students approach the book return counter with a backpack full of expensive textbooks. They're hoping to make some money back and leave with an empty bag. But this is rarely the case, and students are often stuck with heavy book bags rather than heavy wallets.
Senior Anthony Swirczek found a solution for those annoying unreturnable books.
Swirczek, an honors student, started a textbook collection program at UNO in conjunction with Better World Books, a for-profit social venture that has collected more than three million books since 2001. Better World Books use their funds to pick up the books from UNO and take them to their warehouse. Once in the warehouse, the organization will distribute the books to non-profit organizations around the world and sell them to non-profit literacy programs.
Some of the money raised from these books will go toward a scholarship fund for children in Sri Lanka who were victims of the 2005 tsunami, Swirczek said. The funds are set up to help them after they reach third or fourth grade.
Unfortunately, this roundabout method of donating the books to a non-profit organization is necessary, Swirczek said, as he was unable to locate any non-profit organizations that were willing to pick up the books from UNO.
Since Swirczek is the director of this operation, he will receive 50 cents per book, which he will donate to a local social service organization, the Wesley House, where he is a tutor.
Students are encouraged to "check their closets" for old textbooks, Swirczek said. Collection bins are set up around campus in several locations.
Swirczek said he will be outside of the Milo Bail Student Center during book buy-back week.
"I don't know if I'll be able to keep up with the amount of books that come in [during book buy-back week]," Swirczek said. "But it's a challenge I'm willing to take on."
Novels are also welcome for the book drive, but they are unable to be used by the Better World Books program. They will instead be donated to the Omaha Public Library on 90th and Dodge streets.
Senior Anthony Swirczek found a solution for those annoying unreturnable books.
Swirczek, an honors student, started a textbook collection program at UNO in conjunction with Better World Books, a for-profit social venture that has collected more than three million books since 2001. Better World Books use their funds to pick up the books from UNO and take them to their warehouse. Once in the warehouse, the organization will distribute the books to non-profit organizations around the world and sell them to non-profit literacy programs.
Some of the money raised from these books will go toward a scholarship fund for children in Sri Lanka who were victims of the 2005 tsunami, Swirczek said. The funds are set up to help them after they reach third or fourth grade.
Unfortunately, this roundabout method of donating the books to a non-profit organization is necessary, Swirczek said, as he was unable to locate any non-profit organizations that were willing to pick up the books from UNO.
Since Swirczek is the director of this operation, he will receive 50 cents per book, which he will donate to a local social service organization, the Wesley House, where he is a tutor.
Students are encouraged to "check their closets" for old textbooks, Swirczek said. Collection bins are set up around campus in several locations.
Swirczek said he will be outside of the Milo Bail Student Center during book buy-back week.
"I don't know if I'll be able to keep up with the amount of books that come in [during book buy-back week]," Swirczek said. "But it's a challenge I'm willing to take on."
Novels are also welcome for the book drive, but they are unable to be used by the Better World Books program. They will instead be donated to the Omaha Public Library on 90th and Dodge streets.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
jeff
posted 4/27/07 @ 11:14 AM CST
actually Best World Books takes as many of the books as they can and sells them. What ever is left after that they try to sell to another reseller. Finally what ever they can't get rid of they give to charity. (Continued…)
Scott
posted 10/26/07 @ 7:31 PM CST
You can pursue this as far as you want. The other local colleges such as metro could also be able to collect text-books, it would be a shame to start something so great to see it slowly deteriorate into nothing. (Continued…)
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